Sallow wood refers to a grove of the Sal tree, a shrubby broad-leaved willow. The Sal tree is widely distributed in the mountains of Europe and Asia and grows along riverbanks. The wood is a good source of charcoal and tanbark. In India, this beautiful and flexible wood is used in many wood crafts. The Sal tree can grow as high as 30 to 35 meters with wide trunks measuring up to 2-2.5 m. Its leaves are in full bloom in the month of May.

The Sal tree occurs in Indian architecture, as a decorative sculptural element integrated into Indian temple architecture. The sal tree maiden, or salabhanjika is depicted as a yakshini, or beautiful and voluptuous nature-deity.